Posted by Shia K. at 6/3/2011 2:42 PM CDT on Chicago Business |
Top executives and notable political names are offering words of wisdom to high school and college graduates this spring.
Howard Tullman, the Tribeca Flashpoint Academy CEO, stands out for his straight-shooter style. He offered three simple bits of advice to graduates of Tribeca Flashpoint's Media Arts Academy last month.
1. Don't mistake a clear view for short distance. It's great to know exactly what you want (of course, that will change a million times in your career), and it's great to strive aggressively every day toward that goal, but it's equally important to understand that good things don't happen overnight. Try, fail, pick yourself up, try again.
2. Focus is everything. You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything. Saying "no" is much harder than saying "yes." Saying "yes" is a very popular thing to do, but good management and strong leadership isn't a popularity contest.
3. You get what you work for, not what you wish for.
Howard Tullman, the Tribeca Flashpoint Academy CEO, stands out for his straight-shooter style. He offered three simple bits of advice to graduates of Tribeca Flashpoint's Media Arts Academy last month.
1. Don't mistake a clear view for short distance. It's great to know exactly what you want (of course, that will change a million times in your career), and it's great to strive aggressively every day toward that goal, but it's equally important to understand that good things don't happen overnight. Try, fail, pick yourself up, try again.
2. Focus is everything. You can do anything you want, but you can't do everything. Saying "no" is much harder than saying "yes." Saying "yes" is a very popular thing to do, but good management and strong leadership isn't a popularity contest.
3. You get what you work for, not what you wish for.
Others on the commencement speech circuit include:
Connie Lindsey, head of corporate responsibility at Northern Trust, spoke Thursday night at the graduation ceremony for Link Unlimited, a program that has business executives mentoring economically disadvantaged black students.
Steve Casey, founder and board president of Fresh Moves, a mobile produce market in underprivileged neighborhoods, will deliver the Kendall College commencement address June 25 to 600 students in the School of Business, Culinary Arts, Education and Hospitality Management.
Gov. Pat Quinn gave the keynote address at City College of Chicago's graduation ceremony.
Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarezspoke for IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law's graduation last month. She is a 1986 graduate of the school.
Terry Mazany, the Chicago Community Trust CEO who served as temporary Chicago Public Schools CEO, joined University of Illinois board Chairman Christopher Kennedy to speak at the U of I commencement ceremony.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood gave the keynote address during Bradley University's commencement.
Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill, was keynote speaker at Augustana College's convocation.